How in the world did I learn about bone broth? Well, I used to search for quick ways to lose weight.  I came across the bone broth diet and thought I’d give it a try. Just like all the other fad diets I’ve tried, I take something with me and adapt it to our daily life in hopes of finding the perfect recipe for wellness.

Everyone has heard that chicken soup is good for you, right?! People eat it when they are sick…but why?

Many cultures have been using bone broth [chicken soup made from meat, bones, veggies herbs and spices] for centuries. It’s more than just a bowl of deliciousness; it has a real power to heal! It literally promotes healing due to its nutrient-rich properties!! It’s loaded with amino acids and minerals.

The broth is packed with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. AND amino acids such as glutamine, glycine, and proline. It’s also rich in protein such as collagen.

These are all important for protein metabolism along with muscle and cell growth. They also help fight fatigue and promote a healthy immune system. The collagen aids in joint health and some say it can even give you a more youthful appearance.  Winning!

Bone broth is easy to make and way less expensive than the store-bought, preservative riddled version.  Our family meal preps every Sunday, and I use the usually discarded bits to make a healthy broth I can use for soups or simply drink a cup as a little snack on a cold winter day. If you aren’t into making your own broth, I recommend Kettle and Fire bone broth. I love this brand! It tastes like homemade and is organically sourced.

Making a perpetual broth is super easy!

All you need is a crockpot, I use a 7 quart oval slow cooker, and tidbits left over from weekly meal prep!

1 whole chicken frame (organically sourced)

2 sweet bay leaves

1tbsp of black peppercorns

2 tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar

veggie scraps ( whatever you have on hand) could be carrots, celery, fennel, onion…literally whatever you want. I simply save my scraps from weekly meal prep instead of throwing them away.

Cover with filtered water and cook on low for at least 24 hrs. As the fat floats to the top, skim it off and discard (I put it over my dog’s food, they love it!)

After 24 hours it’s ready! You can ladle a portion out, strain with a colander lined with a coffee filter and cook with it or just drink it! (I usually add a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavor)

1 cup of broth is said to have 6-10g of protein and about 50-100 calories.

You can keep it going as a perpetual broth. As you consume the broth throughout the week, simply add back in the same amount of filtered water as the broth you removed… if you take a cup, add a cup. You can cook it all week, and by the end of the week, the nutrients will be cooked out of the bones. Just save any remaining broth [it will be good in the fridge for one week, or you can freeze it up to 3 months] and discard the rest.

In an effort to save counter space, I generally cook it for 24 hours, strain and then place it in a glass pitcher for easy access. I use it to make rice and all sorts of things.

That’s all there is to it!

Share the secret with your friends and Enjoy!